RSS

Category romance

2012: #67 – Once and Again (Lauren Dane)

0 comments By Jaime Filed in romance; Tagged with , ; December 30th, 2012
onceagain

Title: Once and Again
Author: Lauren Dane
Series: Petal, Georgia #01
Format: Kindle
Pages: 200
Release Date: August 30, 2011
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Source: personal copy

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Seven years ago, Lily Travis was only too glad to see her hometown of Petal, Georgia, in her rearview mirror. Thanks to her father running off with a twenty-year-old, though, here she is, trying to pick up the pieces. First order of business: meet with her brother’s teacher in a quest to pull his grades out of a downward spiral.

Nathan Murphy is pretty much resigned to his bachelor status–until he looks up from his desk to see an all-grown-up Lily walking into his classroom. Of all the women who turned out to be totally wrong for him, she’s the only one who felt right. At least until his foolish, immature mistake drove her away.

Lily has to admit that time has been more than kind to gorgeous, sexy Nathan. Except there’s no room on her full plate for another complication. Especially with a man who broke her heart once before.

With a little help from his friends, Nathan has a plan to rekindle the flame. It isn’t long before they’re burning up the sheets. Winning her heart? That’s another matter.

Warning: Hot, sexy high school teacher in denim and boots. Strong-willed females abound. Bad words and naughtiness, too. Come on, you know you want to read it.

My thoughts:

Once and Again is a fairly straightforward contemporary romance. Lily has left her life in Macon and returned to her hometown of Petal in order to take over the rearing of her younger brother. Her mother is mired in an addiction that was exasperated by her marriage falling apart. And to top things off, her brother’s English teacher is the man who broke her heart 7 years ago.

This book has themes of forgiveness and learning how to move forward in your life. It also has a fair bit of steamy sex, so buyer beware. I actually think there could have been a bit more adversity in Nathan and Lily’s relationship – she conceded to his advances rather quickly, and I expected their ride to be a little more bumpy. It’s like the book was missing its third act. But overall, I enjoyed it and will be looking for more romances by this author.

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | WorldCat

Other reviews:

  • “I was truly excited to be revisiting Petal, GA since the completion of the Chase Brothers. I have to say, catching up with the entire Chase family was the only highlight of this book.” — Book Obsessed
  • “ONCE AND AGAIN is a sexy and moving romance. I can’t wait to find out what happens next in Petal.” — the book girl
  • “Nathan’s pursuit and determination to win Lilly back is one of the hottest “wooing” stories I’ve read in a while, maybe the hottest contemporary “non-erotic” story I’ve read ever.” — Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

2012: #51 – Ex and the Single Girl (Lani Diane Rich)

0 comments By Jaime Filed in romance; Tagged with ; November 18th, 2012
ex

Title: Ex and the Single Girl
Author: Lani Diane Rich
Format: Kindle
Pages:  257
Release Date: November 14, 2005
Publisher: 5 Spot
Source: personal copy

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

“It’s not you, it’s me…

…well, maybe it’s a little you.”

Penis Teflon. That’s what Portia Fallon calls the man-repelling curse that keeps men from sticking to the women in her family. When Portia gets dumped — on Valentine’s Day no less — she fears she’s inherited the curse. So when her mother calls her home, she leaves wintry Syracuse and her PhD work behind, and heeds the call. A summer back home in Truly, Georgia, and she’ll be able to regroup and finally finish that dissertation…

She should have known it wouldn’t be that simple. Her mother, Mags, is crazier than usual, and that’s a high bar; Aunt Vera keeps smiling over of an emotional crisis she won’t talk about; and Grandma Bev has her surly turned up to eleven. On top of that, there’s a British writer in town they’ve decided will be Portia’s “Flyer” — a one-night-stand meant to clear a girl’s energy so she can get the ex out of her system. It’s the perfect plan, until Portia falls for her Flyer, and the ex shows up in town with a ring and a promise to stick for good. Now Portia has to figure out what she really wants, and what she’s willing to risk to get it.

My thoughts:

For the most part, I liked this. Portia was an interesting character with more than her share of family strife. Unfortunately, I hated almost every other character in the book. Except Ian, I liked him. The rest of them can take a long walk off a short pier. Her mother, grandmother, and aunt were a bunch of horrid, selfish bitches. It’s no wonder that Portia thinks she’s messed up. What kind of mother pushes her daughter to sleep with a stranger within hours (if not minutes) of her meeting him? Ridiculous. Not to mention her detestable ex.

If Portia’s family had been more likeable, I could have easily given this 4 or 4.5 stars.

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | WorldCat

Other reviews:

  • “It is clear that Rich is gifted in developing character, and although the plot is sometimes thin, she has created a compelling story.” — OnceWritten.com
  • “Still Ex and the Single Girl is a fun and fast read about following your heart and finding your place in the world.” — Trashonista
  • “This is a book that manages to be a fun read while also exploring visceral concepts of vulnerability, so that by the time I reached the ending, I was invested enough in the character’s happiness to cry and smile over the ending.” – Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

2012: #46 – The Exile (Diana Gabaldon)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in 1700s, fantasy, graphic novel, historical fiction, romance; Tagged with , ; November 8th, 2012
exile

Title: The Exile
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Series: Outlander
Format: Hardback
Pages:  224
Release Date: September 21, 2010
Publisher: Del Rey
Source: library

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Diana Gabaldon’s brilliant storytelling has captivated millions of readers in her bestselling and award-winning Outlander saga. Now, in her first-ever graphic novel, Gabaldon gives readers a fresh look at the events of the original Outlander: Jamie Fraser’s side of the story, gorgeously rendered by artist Hoang Nguyen.

After too long an absence, Jamie Fraser is coming home to Scotland—but not without great trepidation. Though his beloved godfather, Murtagh, promised Jamie’s late parents he’d watch over their brash son, making good on that vow will be no easy task. There’s already a fat bounty on the young exile’s head, courtesy of Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who’s crossed paths—and swords—with Jamie in the past. And in the court of the mighty MacKenzie clan, Jamie is a pawn in the power struggle between his uncles: aging chieftain Colum, who demands his nephew’s loyalty—or his life—and Dougal, war chieftain of Clan MacKenzie, who’d sooner see Jamie put to the sword than anointed Colum’s heir.

And then there is Claire Randall—mysterious, beautiful, and strong-willed, who appears in Jamie’s life to stir his compassion . . . and arouse his desire.

But even as Jamie’s heart draws him to Claire, Murtagh is certain she’s been sent by the Old Ones, and Captain Randall accuses her of being a spy. Claire clearly has something to hide, though Jamie can’t believe she could pose him any danger. Still, he knows she is torn between two choices—a life with him, and whatever it is that draws her thoughts so often elsewhere.

Step into the captivating, passionate, and suspenseful world of The Exile, and experience the storytelling magic of Diana Gabaldon as never before.

My thoughts:

Surprisingly, I didn’t care for this. I’m a big fan of Gabaldon’s Outlander series (I think it’s one of the greatest love stories in fiction), but The Exile just didn’t do much for me.

I knew that there wouldn’t be many surprises in the story. It’s basically the first book, Outlander, from Jamie’s point of view. There are a few new things, but nothing earth-shattering. So that wasn’t the problem.

Really, I think it was the artwork. The style didn’t resonate with me. I found Claire to be a bit too much on the buxom side. Her boobs are hanging out all over the place. And all of the men looked too much alike — shaggy hair, sharp noses, kilts. I had a difficult time telling them apart.

But, it’s a short read, so it wasn’t too painful. Though I love the Outlander world, I don’t think I would read a second graphic novel set in it. Unless it was a different artist.

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | WorldCat

Other reviews:

  • “‘The Exile’ proved to be a very entertaining read; one of those books that has me thinking that I really should go back and try the earlier works if I ever get a spare second.” – Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review
  • “For readers like myself, unfamiliar with the original narrative, it is confusing web of scenes whose chain of events takes a significant amount of time to catch hold of, and which is explained only by often cryptic dialogue or command statements, that the artwork does nothing to clarify. “ — Grasping for the Wind
  • “The illustrations left me cold, particularly when it came to depicting the face and body language of the characters.” — A Book Blogger’s Diary

2012: #44 – Faking It (Jennifer Crusie)

0 comments By Jaime Filed in audio, comedy, romance; Tagged with ; November 4th, 2012
fakingit

Title: Faking It
Author: Jennifer Crusie
Format: Audio
Length: 11 hrs 23 min
Release Date: April 14, 2003
Publisher: St. Martin’s
Source: personal copy

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Meet the Goodnights, a respectable family who run a respectable art gallery—and have for generations. There’s Gwen, the matriarch, who likes to escape reality; Eve, the oldest daughter, who has a slight identity problem (she has two); Nadine, the granddaughter, who’s ready to follow in the family footsteps as soon as she can find a set that isn’t leading off a cliff. And last, Matilda, the youngest daughter, who has inherited the secret locked down in the basement of the Goodnight Gallery, a secret she’s willing to do almost anything to keep, even break into a house in the dead of night to steal back her past.

Meet the Dempseys, or at least meet Davy, a reformed con man who’s just been ripped off for a cool three million by his financial manager, who then gallantly turned it over to Clea Lewis, the most beautiful sociopath Davy ever slept with. Davy wants the money back, but more than that, he’ll do anything to keep Clea from winning, including break into her house in the dead of night to steal back his future.

One collision in a closet later, Tilda and Davy reluctantly join forces to combat Clea, suspicious art collectors, a disgruntled heir, and an exasperated hit man, all the while coping with a mutant dachshund, a jukebox stuck in the sixties, questionable sex, and the growing realization that they can’t turn their backs on the people they were meant to be…or the people they were born to love.

My thoughts:

If there’s one thing that Crusie is good at, it’s writing a fun story. From the moment Tilda and Davy bump into each other in Clea’s closet to the final page, there’s ne’er a dull moment in the lives of the Goodnights and Dempseys.

It’s hard to imagine a dull moment in their lives even without that bump in the night. Everyone in this book is a character with a capital “C”. It could have been overkill, but I think Crusie gives them enough “real” characteristics to balance out the wacky.  You want to root for them, even for the unconventional hit man.

The search for the Scarlett paintings gives a bit of meat to the romance, and I enjoyed it. For the most part, I really like what Crusie does. It’s a little like if Carl Hiaasen wrote romance books.

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | WorldCat

Other reviews:

  • “This quirky, light-hearted romantic comedy was an enjoyable read that stands alone just fine, but I do wish I’d stop backing into series this way.” — Dangerously Curvy Novels
  • “I can’t complain about this book. It…just didn’t do anything for me.” — OSgA Book Reviews
  • “Faking It was the first Crusie book I read and the reason that I’ve purchased several of her books.” — An Abundance of Books

2012: #21 – Chesapeake Blue (Nora Roberts)

0 comments By Jaime Filed in audio, featured reviews, romance; Tagged with , ; June 4th, 2012

Title: Chesapeake Blue
Author: Nora Roberts
Series: Quinn Brothers #04
Format: Audio
Length: 9 hrs 18 min
Release Date: November 4, 2002
Publisher: Jove
Categories: romance
Source: personal copy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Back of the book:

Seth Quinn is finally home.

It’s been a long journey. After a harrowing boyhood with his drug-addicted mother, he’d been taken in by the Quinn family, growing up with three older brothers who’d watched over him with love.

Now a grown man returning from Europe as a successful painter, Seth is settling down on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, surrounded once again by Cam, Ethan, and Phil, their wives and children, all the blessed chaos of the extended Quinn clan. Finally, he’s back in the little blue-and-white house where there’s always a boat at the dock, a rocker on the porch, and a dog in the yard.

Still, a lot has changed in St. Christopher since he’s been gone-and the most intriguing change of all is the presence of Dru Whitcomb Banks. A city girl who’s opened a florist shop in this seaside town, she craves independence and the challenge of establishing herself without the influence of her wealthy connections. In Seth, she sees another kind of challenge-a challenge that she can’t resist.

My thoughts:

Eighteen years have passed since the third book in the Quinn Brothers trilogy, and some things in St. Christopher never change. The three oldest Quinn brothers are still building boats, the Quinn wives are still putting up with their shenanigans, and everyone still supports the other, without question. But Seth has been gone for five long years, running more from his past than from his present. Almost immediately upon his return, his artist’s eye is caught by the new florist, Dru, who is doing a little running of her own.

This was a solid finish to what was already a great trilogy, possibly my favorite Roberts series. There was a consistent theme of family, and how the ones you make can be more important than the one you are born into. And, of course, there was a tempestuous romance to fill in the gaps.

If you aren’t already a fan of Nora Roberts, this is a great series to start with. Particularly if you are turned off by the thought of her paranormal books. There are a couple of ghosts, but nothing that I think qualify as paranormal – they’re more visions than anything. What you get the most is a great family in a great setting.

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | WorldCat

Other reviews:

  • “Roberts is very good with this type of romance, with enough tension to keep the story going, yet obvious in its conclusion. It is getting to the conclusion in Chesapeake Blue that touches the reader.” — Jandy’s Reading Room
  • “I think the readers who’ll enjoy Chesapeake Blue most are the readers familiar with the other books in this series, which are Sea Swept (1997), Rising Tides (1998) and Inner Harbor (1998).” — Dreamworld Book Reviews
  • “This book and the entire series on the Quinn Legacy are extraordinarily written with some of that Nora Robert’s humor thrown in.” — Book Reviews by Angie

Past reviews:

2011: Love in Infant Monkeys (Lydia Millet)
2010: Already Dead (Charlie Huston)
2009: Summer Knight (Jim Butcher)
2008: Mirror Image (Sandra Brown)
2007: The Cater Street Hangman (Anne Perry)
2006: A Caress of Twilight (Laurell K. Hamilton)
2005: The Ersatz Elevator (Lemony Snicket)

2011: #68 – Thanksgiving (Janet Evanovich)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; December 12th, 2011

thanksgivingBook #68 was Thanksgiving (paperback, kindle, audio) by Janet Evanovich. The back of the book reads:

When Megan Murphy discovered a floppy-eared rabbit gnawing on the hem of her skirt, she meant to give its careless owner a piece of her mind, but Dr. Patrick Hunter was too attractive to stay mad at for long. Soon the two are making Thanksgiving dinner for their families.

I seem to be into theme reading this year, since I picked this up shortly before Thanksgiving. It is your typical Evanovich screwball romance, so it’s hard to find anything wrong with it. Both the male and female lead are more cute than sexy, making them perfectly suited for each other. This is not quite as hot as some of Evanovich’s romances, but there’s still a little bit of steam. And Megan goes a little bit nutsy at one point, but it all works out okay in the end. This is good quick read for a cold night when you want to feel like you’ve accomplished something.

Other reviews:

Long and Short Romance Reviews: Review: Thanksgiving
not enough books: Thanksgiving by Janet Evanovich

Page count: 256 (’11 total: 18,899) | Approximate word count: 64,000 (’11 total: 6,750,307)

2010: Flirt (Laurell K. Hamilton)
2009: Skin Trade (Laurell K. Hamilton)
2008: Dead Witness (Joylene Nowell Butler)
2007: Plum Island (Nelson DeMille)
2006: Letters From An Age of Reason (Nora Hague)
2005: Therapy (Jonathan Kellerman)

2011: #56 – Dead End Dating (Kimberly Raye)

3 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, paranormal, romance; Tagged with , ; September 15th, 2011

deadenddating Book #56 was Dead End Dating, the first book in Kimberly Raye’s Dead End Dating series. The back of the book reads:

BITING IS SO LAST SEASON.

A vivacious vampire with a flair for accessorizing, Lil Marchette is unlike most of her kind. She prefers lively shades of pink to dismal black (soo not her color), plus she’s a hopeless romantic. In need of a steady paycheck to support a compulsive cosmetics habit, Lil starts Dead End Dating (DED), a Manhattan-based matchmaking service that helps smart, sophisticated singles like herself find eternity mates–and may even help her stake a claim to her very own Count Right!

When Lil meets geeky vampire Francis Deville, she knows he’s the perfect first client. If she can hook up Francis–after a little revamping, of course–she will prove her skills to the vampire community and turn DED into the hottest dating service in the Big Apple. But just as her business takes off, Lil meets the (literally) drop-dead gorgeous bounty hunter Ty Bonner, who is hot on the chase of a serial killer. Instantly drawn to the luscious vamp stud, Lil really wants a taste. But as a made vampire, Ty can’t procreate–and Lil will settle for nothing less. Luckily, between “vampifying” Francis and helping Ty solve his murder mystery, Lil has no time for silly romantic entanglements . . . even if Ty is all that and a Bloody Mary chaser!

This was a fun read, but there’s not a lot of substance to it. You can draw some comparisons between this and MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead series, but not a lot of them. Lil and Betsy are really only similar in that they are very style conscious. Otherwise, Lil is *much* less annoying.

Raye’s vampires are either made or born that way, and there isn’t a lot of mixing between the two. And the general population has no idea they exist. Lil is a born vampire who believes in love, and she’s backing up her belief by starting a dating service, much to the chagrin of her entire family. They are more traditional, believing that matches should be made on the basis of who is most fertile, not this silly love business.

Unfortunately, there is a serial killer who is targeting women using dating services, and that’s what brings bounty hunter Ty into Lil’s office. Ty is a made vampire, but Lil can’t help finding him just a little bit irresistible.

This is more paranormal romance than urban fantasy, but it’s not a bad ride. The serial killer storyline is almost secondary to Lil’s struggle to get her business off the ground. I’ll probably continue the series – it’s good for when you need a quick distraction.

Other reviews:

Book Review – Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye
Review: Dead End Dating
Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye

Page count: 352 (’11 total: 15,406) | Approximate word count: 88,000 (’11 total: 5,453,870)

2010: Chenxi and the Foreigner (Sally Rippin)
2009: Dark Places (Gillian Flynn)
2008: How I Live Now (Meg Rosoff)
2007: Basket Case (Carl Hiaasen)
2006: Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
2005: Hard Eight (Janet Evanovich)

Used in these Challenges: 2011 TBR Pile Challenge; Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011;

2011: #53 – 22 Indigo Place (Sandra Brown)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; September 9th, 2011

indigoplaceBook #53 was 22 Indigo Place by Sandra Brown. The back of the book reads:

To beautiful Laura Nolan, the mansion on Indigo Place wasn’t just a home—it was her life’s passion. Now old family debts were forcing her to sell and, much to her surprise, James Paden was the prospective buyer. Once the high school bad boy, he’d been too dangerous to flirt with, but too gorgeous to ignore. Now he was all man, and he still had the devastating power to seduce Laura’s senses, to make her shiver with emotions she dared not confess…. He was a rebel millionaire on the wrong side of the tracks. Years ago, James Paden skipped town, leaving behind Saturday-night drag races for the thrill of the professional race circuit. He’d burned rubber in the fast lane of beautiful women and big money, but now he’s back, a millionaire tycoon with a dream—to lay claim to 22 Indigo Place and its alluring owner. In his mind Laura had always been the girl he couldn’t have, the rich man’s daughter for whom he’d never be good enough … until that moonlit night when the fierce touch of his lips branded her forever his….

This was an okay romance from Sandra Brown’s early years, but it comes from the era of romance novels where it was okay for the man to force himself upon the woman until she submitted, because he knew better than her what she really felt. It’s not the violence of rape, but it still doesn’t sit well with me and it puts a shadow over the entire story. I’m sure there are better romances out there.

Other reviews:

Danielle’s Book Thoughts: 22 Indigo Place by Sandra Brown

Page count: 224 (’11 total: 14,302) | Approximate word count: 56,000 (’11 total: 5,177,870)

2010: Worst Case (James Patterson & Michael Ledwidge)
2009: Tripwire (Lee Child)
2008: Murder on the Links (Agatha Christie)
2007: Mimosa Grove (Dinah McCall)
2006: Biting the Moon (Martha Grimes)
2005: High Five (Janet Evanovich)

Used in these Challenges: Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011; What’s in a Name 4 Challenge;

2011: #47 – Haunted Heart (Carolyn Rosewood)

3 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; August 4th, 2011

hauntedheartBook #47 was Haunted Heart by Carolyn Rosewood. The back of the book reads:

All Rowena Sommers wants is a quiet life away from Hollywood gossip and her vicious Oscar-winning ex-boyfriend Brett Fontaine. Her career and reputation in a shambles, thanks to Brett, Rowena returns home to restore her ancestral home and soak up some familiar, hometown sympathy. But having won a twenty-million-dollar defamation suit against Brett hasn’t endeared her to the hometown fans, and the man she’s hired to restore the old home is none other than the ex-jock who used her cruelly in high school to win a bet. And now a paranormal investigator is telling her the place may be haunted.

Van Whitney is no stranger to gossip. He’s been struggling to keep his family’s restoration business afloat, and when he agrees to restore Rowena’s home, he vows to keep their relationship professional. His childhood friend has become a beautiful, sexy woman, but she attracts gossip like flies to honey. When strange things start happening at the house, Van discovers secrets upon secrets, and a plot that may be other than it seems. But his attraction to Rowena might be more dangerous than anything from the past…

This debut romance has a fitting theme – starting anew. Rowena is struggling to leave her Hollywood life behind and return to her roots in her beloved Aunt Loony’s house. Van is trying outgrow his childhood once and for all and establish himself as someone other than the ex-football star whose cheerleader wife cheated on him.

Rather than moving forward, Rowena finds herself constantly bombarded with the ramifications of not only her recent celebrity, but the high school feelings, good and bad, that she has never come to terms with. Van just finds himself smitten with a girl who used to be like a little sister.

Throw in a complete home renovation uncovering treasures left and right, as well as a possible ghost, and there’s plenty here to pull Rowena and Van together… Or push them apart.

I really enjoy Carolyn Rosewood’s writing style. It’s casual and friendly and the characters don’t reach that emotionally overwrought place that you find in a lot of romance novels. The characters feel real. And have I mentioned that this book is hot? If you aren’t a fan of steamy sex scenes in your romances, this may not be the book for you. Luckily, it was the book for me.

Disclaimer: I am a member of a writing community with the author, Carolyn Rosewood. However, this book was not a review copy — I purchased it.

Other reviews:

Book of Secrets: Review: HAUNTED HEART by Carolyn Rosewood
The Romance Reviews (TRR) – Haunted Heart
Working Stiffs: Haunted Heart

Page count: 292 (’11 total: 11,965) | Word count: 73,111 (’11 total: 4,506,314)

2010: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Stieg Larsson)
2009: Afraid (Jack Kilborn)
2008: Never Tell (Karen Young)
2007: Deviant Ways (Chris Mooney)
2006: Into Thin Air (Stan Washburn)
2005: Back Roads (Tawni O’Dell)

Used in these Challenges: 2011 E-book Reading Challenge; New Author Challenge 2011; Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011;

2011: #23 – The Woman He Married (Julie N. Ford) & Giveaway

18 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; April 8th, 2011

TWHM Cover FINAL Book #23 was The Woman He Married by Julie N. Ford. The back of the book reads:

An aspiring young defense attorney, Josie McClain looked forward to taking on the injustices of the world—one case at a time. Eleven years later, she’s a stay-at-home-mom, battling demons that don’t require a law degree, but do demand the ability to remain insanely busy while nursing a heavy dose of denial. But keeping up pretenses proves more than she can bear when a bracelet that should have been hers shows up on the wrist of another woman. Now, in the midst of an Alabama judicial campaign, Josie’s marriage to candidate John Bearden slowly begins to unravel as an ex-lover comes back into her life. When he offers her the dreams she thought she’d lost, Josie faces one of the most difficult decisions of her life. Josie embarks on a journey of self-rediscovery, hoping fulfillment might be within her reach.

Welcome to the first stop on the blog tour for Julie Ford’s debut novel, The Woman He Married!

Josie McClain is at a crossroads.  Her life is nothing that she expected. Instead of being a powerhouse lawyer defending women’s rights, she’s a stay-at-home mother with an absentee, inattentive, possibly cheating husband, trying to fill her life with school projects and the occasional bottle of gin. She knows that something needs to change, but is leaving her husband the right choice?

Neither Josie nor John are angels. Josie has lost her spirit and is unable to stand up to her husband. She lets him, and others, walk all over her, and that’s attractive to no one.  Throw in her borderline alcoholism, and there are some real problems. For his part, John is completely closed off.  He doesn’t know how to relate to his wife, or how to express emotions other than anger in even the most basic way. His entire life is campaigning, and he’s forgotten that his wife is neither a constituent nor an employee.

I think what is most interesting about this romance is that it’s not your typical formulaic romance. Rather than being about two strangers finding love, this is about a couple trying to figure out how to rekindle the love they once had, and maybe even make it better than it ever was.

I could nitpick about a few things, like the author’s tendency to use double-quotes when they’re not needed, or that there are a couple of things about Josie and John’s relationship that don’t ring 100% true to me, but the truth is that the story is good enough to overlook the little things. There are some great touches of humor, and a sense of the life of a busy mother in the proper South, where status, reputation, and social graces still matter. I would gladly recommend this to any romance reader, and look forward to seeing what’s to come from this author.

Giveaway

And now, a giveaway! Julie is hosting a contest, and the winner will receive a signed copy of the book along with a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. You can increase your chances of winning by going to the author’s blog, Queries2Reviews.wordpress.com, every day from now until April 18th to visit the next blog on the tour and leave another comment. On April 20th the winner will be announced on the author’s blog.

For a second chance to win, a follow-up contest is already underway. See author’s blog for details.

Other stops on the tour:

April 9th: It’s Wright Design

April 10th: Cordelia

April 11th: A View From the Other Side of the Hill

April 12th: Musings of a Domestic Goddess

April 13th: Hoke Hub

April 14th: my writer’s lair

April 15th: Just Because I Am Me

April 16th: Writer’s Block

April 17th: The Tennessee Williams

April 18th: Writer in the Pines

Page count: 390 (’11 total: 5,962) | Approximate word count: 97,500 (’11 total: 2,171,852)

2010: Black Seconds (Karin Fossum)
2009: An Ice Cold Grave (Charlaine Harris)
2008: Whitewash (Alex Kava)
2007: Op-Center (Tom Clancy)
2006: The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
2005: Blue Gold (Clive Cussler)

Used in these Challenges: Countdown Challenge 2011; 2011 E-book Reading Challenge; ARC Reading Challenge 2011; New Author Challenge 2011; Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge 2011; Four Month Challenge – Part 6

2010: #98 – Lake Magic (Kimberly Fisk)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; December 6th, 2010

lakemagic Book #98 was Lake Magic by Kimberly Fisk. The back of the book reads:

A captivating, heartwarming debut novel.

After the loss of her fiancé Steven, Jenny Beckinsdale has more than a broken heart to deal with-their fledgling seaplane service is going under. In debt to Steven’s best friend and fellow Navy pilot, she plans to convince the sexy, cynical flyboy to help save the business…and in the process these two lost souls may find they’re saving each other.

This was okay.  Nothing complex or complicated, just a fairly straight-forward romance. I liked it, but didn’t find much about it to love. I found the animosity of Jenny’s family towards her a bit confusing.  If you ask me, she had a right to still be a bit of a mess 9 months after her fiance’s death.  There was more history than that to it, but the outright hostility didn’t sit well with me.  I also could have done without the subplot involving Jenny’s sister and her absentee husband.  It added absolutely nothing to the story, especially since it’s resolved without much to-do. Jared is your run-of-the-mill leading man, who didn’t really need a "hero" story behind him.  I think he would have been much more interesting with more of a bad-boy story behind him.  But these are really just nit-picky things.  If you like romance in a beautiful setting, it’s not a bad book to pick up.

This book is a review copy.

Page count: 336 | Approximate word count: 84,000

2009: Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins)
2008: Any Given Doomsday (Lori Handeland)
2007: A Game of Thrones (George R.R. Martin)
2006: A Dangerous Fortune (Ken Follett)

Used in these Challenges: ARC Reading Challenge 2010; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2010; Pages Read Challenge Season 2; Four Month Challenge – Part 5; Countdown Challenge 2011;

2010: #97 – Don't Look Down (Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in action/adventure, audio, featured reviews, romance; Tagged with , ; December 4th, 2010

dontlookdown Book #97 was Don’t Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer.  The back of the book reads:

SHE is a director of dog food commercials who’s just been recruited to finish a four-day movie shoot. But as soon as Lucy Armstrong arrives on set, she discovers that the staff is in chaos, the make-up artist is suicidal, and the stunt director just happens to be her ex-husband. That, and the temperamental lead actor has just acquired as an advisor a Green Beret who has the aggravating habit of always being right.

HE thought that hiring on as a military consultant for a movie star was a to-die-for deal: easy work, easy money, easier starlets. But his first day on the job, Captain J.T. Wilder ends up babysitting a bumbling comedian, dodging low-flying helicopters, and trying to find out who’s taking "shooting a movie" much too literally.

I have mixed feelings about this.  First, the audio production I listened to was really odd, with the different male/female points of view and male/female dialog done by different narrators (male for male, female for female, of course).  It was a little jarring at times, and I think it contributed to the outrageousness of the story. The plot is weak and unnecessarily confusing (I’m still not entirely certain what was going on in the end), and characters are so over-the-top they border on cartoonish.  I guess this could be good or bad, depending on your point of view. I’d read more from Crusie, but I might shy away from this particular combination of authors in the future.

Other reviews:

REVIEW: Don’t Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer | Dear Author
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Audiobook length: 11 hrs 51 min | Approximate word count: 96,000

2009: Huge (James W. Fuerst)
2008: The Book of Three (Lloyd Alexander)
2007: Three Act Tragedy (Agatha Christie)
2006: The Kill Artist (Daniel Silva)

Used in these Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; 2nd Reading Challenge; Audiobook Challenge; Four Month Challenge – Part 5; Countdown Challenge 2011;

2010: #93 – Morrigan's Cross (Nora Roberts)

0 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, paranormal, romance; Tagged with ; November 30th, 2010

morriganBook #93 was Morrigan’s Cross, the first book in the Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts.  The back of the book reads:

As a storm rages, the tale of a powerful vampire’s lust for destruction-and of the circle of six charged by the goddess Morrigan to stop her-begins. One of the chosen is a medieval sorcerer whose quest will take him through time-and into the arms of a woman courageous enough to link her destiny to his own.

I’m not the greatest fan of Nora Roberts’ romances with a supernatural twist, but I thought I’d give this a try.  It was just okay.  I felt like the set-up was really weird.  Everyone just falls together and shows up where they are supposed to be, and making the reason be "because the goddess said so" is just a little too convenient. Overall, I guess I was a little bored with it. No one character stands out as anything other than a stereotype. I might read the other two books, just to complete the story, but I won’t rush to do it.

Other reviews:

REVIEW: Morrigan’s Cross by Nora Roberts | Dear Author
read_warbler: Morrigan’s Cross

Page count: 352 | Approximate word count: 88,000

2009: Evil at Heart (Chelsea Cain)
2008: Third Degree (Greg Iles)
2007: The Woods (Harlan Coben)
2006: Why Girls Are Weird (Pamela Ribon)

Used in these Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; 2010 Reading From My Shelves Project; 1st in a Series Challenge; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

2010: #82 – Time Was (Nora Roberts)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; October 6th, 2010

timewas Book #82 was Time Was by Nora Roberts.  The back of the book reads:

Stranded in the present, time traveler Caleb Hornblower’s biggest problem wasn’t returning to the twenty-third century — it was falling in love with the beguiling Liberty Stone, who showed him a love more powerful than time itself. Though he belonged in the future, how could he leave the past — and Liberty — behind?

I couldn’t resist finding the original cover for this.  It’s so quintessential Harlequin! Much like the story.  Nothing special here, just a quick-read romance with a little time-travel to spice things up. Enjoyable, none-the-less. 

Other reviews:

Kay’s Bookshelf » Time and Again / Nora Roberts

Page count: 250 | Approximate word count: 62,500

2009: A Pen Warmed Up In Hell (Mark Twain)
2008: Matrimony (Joshua Henkin)
2007: Split Second (Alex Kava)
2006: Ruby (V.C. Andrews)

Used in these Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

2010: #72 – Tell Me Lies (Jennifer Crusie)

3 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; August 10th, 2010

tellmelies Book #72 was Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie.  The back of the book reads:

If you think small-town life can be boring–think again. There are complex social rules: there are certain people with whom you fraternize and those you don’t, and, of course, there is the all-powerful gossip. Everyone knows everything about everyone else. Don’t they? That’s what Maddie Farraday thinks until she finds a pair of black crotchless panties in her husband’s car that don’t belong to her. That’s it; Maddie’s had it. She’s ready for change, and the first thing she’s going to do is divorce her no-good, philandering husband Brent. But then everything goes haywire: Brent turns up dead, Maddie’s daughter wants a dog, her best friend is suddenly acting very strange, and Maddie’s secret boyhood crush, bad boy C. L. Sturgis, arrives in town after a 20-year hiatus–and he’s as sexy as ever. You may laugh out loud at the wild and crazy antics in Jennifer Crusie’s exceptional novel, but you’ll exclaim with delight over the sizzling, dynamic, passionate affair between Maddie and her first love, C. L.

This was my first Jennifer Crusie read, and I was pleased with it for the most part.  Maddie is a pretty average mom and wife, living in a small town where not only does everyone know your business, but they’ll tell your mother too.  Having grown up in a town of 1200 people (in a good year), I can relate.  Maddie was a little flightly and irrational (throwing away the evidence of your husband’s infidelity? leaving suspiciously found cash where it can be found?), but likable enough. I also liked C.L. as the reformed, torch-carrying bad boy.  I was a little iffy on her daughter, Emily, and questioned whether the scenes from her point of view were really necessary or just there to force us into some emotional connection with her.

Some readers have mentioned that the police investigation(s) in this book don’t make a whole lot of sense, but I am 100% capable of suspending disbelief in a story like this — it’s not meant to be a police procedural. The one part of the book that really bothered me was her husband’s death. His murder is announced on the back of the book, but you are 60% of the way through the book (literally!) before he actually kicks it.  This meant I spent several chapters asking, "Is he dead yet?" "Maybe he’s dead now?" only to have him show up in the next scene.  I would have preferred to have that little tidbit held back, thank you very much.

Despite that, I enjoyed the story enough to read more of Crusie’s work.

Other reviews:

Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie – Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

Page count: 384 | Approximate word count: 96,000

2009: Finger Lickin’ Fifteen (Janet Evanovich)
2008: The Finishing School (Michele Martinez)
2007: Lean Mean Thirteen (Janet Evanovich)
2006: The Sky is Falling (Sidney Sheldon)
2005: Jacob’s Ladder (Donald McCaig)

Used in these Challenges: Four Month Challenge – Part 4; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; New Author Challenge 2010; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

2010: #51 – Back to the Bedroom (Janet Evanovich)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; June 3rd, 2010

backbedroom Book #51 was Back to the Bedroom by Janet Evanovich.  The back of the book reads:

Dear Reader:

In a previous life, before the time of Plum, I wrote twelve short romance novels. Red-hot screwball comedies, each and every one of them. Nine of these stories were originally published by the Loveswept line between the years 1988 and 1992. All immediately went out of print and could be found only at used bookstores and yard sales.

I’m excited to tell you that those nine stories are now being re-released by HarperCollins. Back to the Bedroom is presented here in almost original form. I’ve done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around.

I lived in northern Virginia when I wrote Back to the Bedroom. My children were young, and we spent a lot of time visiting the Washington, D.C. museums and wandering through the historic neighborhoods. One day while strolling Capitol Hill I came upon two townhouses that captured my imagination. The houses were totally different — a birthday cake of a house and a bran muffin of a house, and yet they shared a common wall. I wondered about the people who lived inside the houses. And eventually the houses inspired Back to the Bedroom.

Back to the Bedroom is the story of a young woman with the soul of a birthday cake living in a bran muffin house — and a nice-looking guy with the substance of a bran muffin living in a birthday cake. They share some misadventures, some romantic moments, some misunderstandings, and ultimately they turn into wedding cake.

And for Plum fans, you’ll be interested to find that this was the first of the four romances to feature Elsie Hawkins, the prototype for Grandma Mazur.

Janet Evanovich

This was a quick, fun read. There’s no deeper meaning, no seriousness, just a couple of seemingly incompatible people with great physical chemistry who are thrown into an unbelievable situation.  This is very typical Evanovich, full of wild, over-the-top scenarios. After all, there’s nothing quite like meeting your girlfriend’s parents for the first time while there’s a drug bust going on across the street. This is a perfect book for a hot afternoon at the beach.

Page count: 272 | Approximate word count: 54,400

2009: The BFG (Roald Dahl)
2008: Heartbreaker (Julie Garwood)
2007: Darkly Dreaming Dexter (Jeff Lindsay)
2006: The Carnivorous Carnival (Lemony Snicket)
2005: Three to Get Deadly (Janet Evanovich)

Used in these Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2010; E-book Reading Challenge; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

2010: #45 – Shelter Mountain (Robyn Carr)

2 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; May 16th, 2010

sheltermountain Book #45 was Shelter Mountain, the second book in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series.  The back of the book reads:

John "Preacher" Middleton is about to close the bar when a young woman and her three-year-old son come in out of the wet October night. A marine who has seen his share of pain, Preacher knows a crisis when he sees one—the woman is covered in bruises. He wants to protect them, and he wants to punish whoever did this to her, but he knows immediately that this inclination to protect is something much more. Paige Lassiter has stirred up emotions in this gentle giant of a man-emotions that he has never allowed himself to feel.

But when Paige’s ex-husband turns up in Virgin River, Preacher knows his own future hangs in the balance. And if there’s one thing the marines’ motto of Semper Fidelis—always faithful—has taught him, it’s that some things are worth fighting for.

This was a pretty good second book in the series, keeping us tied to our initial characters, Jack and Mel, but really focusing on other characters in their orbit.  This book isn’t just about Preacher and Paige, it’s about Jack and Mel and their baby, Jack’s protege, Rick and his girlfriend, and there’s a significant amount of set-up for the next book, about Jack’s sister Brie and his Marine buddy, Mike. There’s nothing special in the plot, and very few surprises — you know the "wronged", abusive husband isn’t going to go quietly, and the independent, plucky midwife isn’t going to have a routine birth. The strength in this series is in the characters, and Carr is able to make us fall in love with every one of them, even when they are over-the-top and too good to be true.

Other reviews:

not enough books: Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr
Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr « Scooper Speaks

Page count: 363 | Approximate word count: 90,750

2009: First Family (David Baldacci)
2008: Grave Surprise (Charlaine Harris)
2007: Through Violet Eyes (Stephen Woodworth)
2006: Eveless Eden (Marianne Wiggins)
2005: King’s Oak (Anne Rivers Siddons)

Used in these Challenges: Countdown Challenge 2010; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2010; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

2010: #38 – Inner Harbor (Nora Roberts)

2 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; May 2nd, 2010

innerharbor Book #38 was Inner Harbor, the third book in Nora Roberts’ Quinn Brothers series.  The back of the book reads:

Philip Quinn is juggling his high-powered advertising job and his new-found family duty of helping to care for his young adopted brother, Seth, when Dr. Sybill Griffin shows up in the sleepy town of St. Christopher. Philip had done everything to make his life seem perfect. With his career on the fast track and a condo overlooking the Inner Harbour, his life on the streets was firmly in the past. But one look at Seth, and he’s reminded of the boy he once was. Seth’s future as a Quinn seems assured – until Dr. Griffin shows up. She claims to be researching St. Christopher’s for her new book, but the true objects of her study are the Quinn brothers. Her cool reserve intrigues Phillip. He is determined to uncover her motives, and while Sybill can’t deny her own growing feelings for the charismatic Quinn, the secret she hides has the power to threaten the life that the brothers have made for Seth, and destroy any chance that the two young lovers have at happiness…

This was my second favorite of the Quinn Brothers novels (Ethan’s being my favorite). Nora Robert’s best skill is creating characters and complex family units that feel real, and this series is no exception.  I liked this more in-depth look at Philip, and I also liked his romantic interest, Sybil, even if she is a bit cold and shut down for most of the book. Nora also does a great job pulling us into the setting, giving us a more clinical look at small-town life through the eyes Sybil, an outsider. The one element of this series I could do without is the ghostly Papa Quinn, especially since he is one of the few ghosts who have a solid form capable of giving someone a boost up a wall. But we all know that Nora likes a little bit of the supernatural mixed up in her love stories. The book does a good job of bringing resolution to the trilogy and answering some important questions, like Seth’s parentage and Ray Quinn’s connection to Gloria. This is one of her more solid series.

Audiobook length: 8 hrs 54 min | Word count: 93,695

2009: The Masque of the Black Tulip (Lauren Willig)
2008: Hide (Lisa Gardner)
2007: The Night Gardener (George Pelecanos)
2006: Case Histories (Kate Atkinson)
2005: I’m Not the New Me (Wendy McClure)

Used in these Challenges: 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Audiobook Challenge; Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2010;

2010: #17 – Outrageous (Christina Dodd)

2 comments By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, historical - 1500s, romance; Tagged with ; March 3rd, 2010

outrageous Book #17 was Outrageous by Christina Dodd.  The back of the book reads:

A woman banished

Griffith, battle-seasoned warrior and the king’s most trusted emissary, expected to find a shallow, vain, frivolous woman at Wenthaven Castle. After all, as lady-in-waiting to the queen, lovely Lady Marian had been in a position of privilege, yet she had been banished from the court. And the rumors were that she had given birth to an illegitimate child.

An outrageous offer

When he arrived, Griffith found Lady Marian to be strong, intelligent and fiercely protective of the young baby in her custody…. and very suspicious of him. If he were smart, the knight would just deliver the message with which he had been entrusted. Instead, he longs to linger to delve into the mystery that is Marian, to discover what she so desperately fears-and why he so improperly wants her.

This wasn’t too bad, for a historical romance.  It’s set at the beginning of the reign of Henry VII, the father of the notorious Henry VIII, though none of it actually takes place at court.  However, Henry VII does play a large role. Political intrigue is the driving force behind most of the plot. The romance between Marian and Griffith could have been a little more developed — they went from lust to love very quickly — but there were things I enjoyed.  The dialogue, though not completely historically accurate, is more fitting than the speech patterns of today that are often used in historical romances. Also, I like the twisting intrigue of court. I’m liking Christina Dodd, and I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.

Page count: 384 | Word count: 105,341

2009: Kiss of the Night (Sherrilyn Kenyon)
2008: Relic (Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child)
2007: At Bertram’s Hotel (Agatha Christie)
2006: Cerulean Sins (Laurell K. Hamilton)
2005: The Hearing (John Lescroart)

Used in these Challenges: The Four Month Challenge; Random Reading Challenge; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; E-book Reading Challenge; Pages Read Challenge Season 2; Year of the Historical;

2010: #9 – Forbidden Falls (Robyn Carr)

1 comment By Jaime Filed in featured reviews, romance; Tagged with ; February 11th, 2010

forbiddenfalls Book #9 was Forbidden Falls, the 8th book in Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series.  The back of the book reads:

Virgin River is abuzz with the news that a stranger bought the town’s abandoned church on eBay. The buyer, a young widowed reverend, is a little like the building itself: in need of some loving care.

Noah Kincaid arrives ready to roll up his sleeves and revitalize his new purchase, but he’s going to need some help. An ad in the local paper brings an improbable candidate his way.

"Pastor’s assistant" is not a phrase that springs to mind when Noah meets brassy, beautiful Ellie Baldwin. With her colorful clothes and even more colorful past, Ellie needs a respectable job so she can regain custody of her children. Noah can’t help but admire her spunk and determination, and she may just be the breath of fresh air he needs.

This unlikely duo may come from two different worlds, but they have more in common than anyone would have expected. And in Virgin River lasting happiness is never out of the question.

This is only the second Virgin River book I’ve read, but it’s really not necessary to read these in order.  Each book deals with a different couple, though you do get to visit with past characters and see where life has taken them. Overall, this was a sweet romance with a recurring theme of children and what parents will do for them. Not only is Ellie fighting for her kids, but another couple in town struggles with a decision about a child they’ve unexpectedly "inherited". My one complaint is that the first chapter is quite awkward; it’s all just narration of how Noah comes to purchase Virgin River’s church.  I think that background could have been fit in more smoothly.  Also, I have no idea why this book is named Forbidden Falls.  There is no mention of falls or Forbidden Falls or anything like that in the entire book. I suppose that some might think that Noah’s relationship with Ellie is "forbidden", but I think that’s a stretch. Regardless, I thought it was a nice story and I definitely plan to read more in this series.

Page count: 384 | Approximate word count: 96,000

2009: Amelia Peabody’s Egypt (Elizabeth Peters)
2008: The Copenhagen Connection (Elizabeth Peters)
2007: Birthright (Nora Roberts)
2006: Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
2005: E is for Evidence (Sue Grafton)

Used in these Challenges: Countdown Challenge 2010; ARC Reading Challenge; 2010 100+ Reading Challenge; Second Reading Challenge; Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge 2010; Pages Read Challenge Season 2;

Read Previous Entries

Copyright © Confessions of a Bibliophile
Book Reviews and a Little More…

Built on Notes Blog Core
Powered by WordPress